Biography of N. C. Pedersen

N. C. Pedersen, engaged in the real estate business in Racine, was born in Denmark, February 22, 1851, a son of Peter Nelson and Christine (Christensen) Pedersen, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. Their son, N. C. Pedersen, was reared and educated in that country and forty-four years ago came to the United States, being at the time a young man of about twenty-one years. He was lured by the hope of finding better business opportunities in the new world, nor did he find that the hope was a fallacy, for he here met conditions that enabled him to work his way upward and obtain good rewards for his labor. He located in Racine and secured employment on a railroad. Afterward he worked in the lumber woods of Michigan for a time but at the end of a year returned to Racine and was employed as a farm hand. His next position was that of night watchman for the J. I. Case Company, where he continued for six years, and for nineteen years he was a member of the police force of Racine. Desiring, however, to engage in business on his own account, he purchased a restaurant on Junction Avenue and remained there for seven years, enjoying a good patronage throughout the entire period. It is now about four years since he turned his attention to the real estate field, handling both land and town property. He engages quite largely in speculation and his sound judgment enables him to make judicious investments which yield him a substantial profit. He has built a fine residence on Washington Avenue and also owns other houses in Racine which he rents.

In August, 1880, Mr. Pedersen was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Vincent, who was born in Kenosha, and they have four children: George L., of Racine: Hayes: Florence the wife of Carl W. Carlson. of Racine; and Irene, at home.

While Mr. Pedersen usually votes with the democratic party he does not consider himself bound by party ties and casts an independent ballot if his judgment so dictates. His sons are members of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Pedersen belongs to the Lutheran church and has guided his life by its teachings. He does not look back with regret upon his determination to come to the new world; on the contrary he has always been glad that he determined upon that course, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress along business lines, gaining a creditable position among the substantial citizens of Racine.